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OPERATION ROUTE 66 -
Last night, agents with the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office and Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deputies arrested Luis Flores. Law enforcement seized 26,000 fentanyl pills located inside of a backpack belonging to Flores.

Operation Route 66 is a collaborative effort with the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office, the New Mexico State Police, the Bernalillo Cou
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OPERATION ROUTE 66 -
Last night, agents with the Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office and Bernalillo County Sheriffs Deputies arrested Luis Flores.  Law enforcement seized 26,000 fentanyl pills located inside of a backpack belonging to Flores. 

Operation Route 66 is a collaborative effort with the Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office, the New Mexico State Police, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office, and the New Mexico Corrections Departments Probation and Parole Division.

ABOVE AND BEYOND!
Today Prosecution Specialist Selena Richardson was honored for her outstanding work when it comes to combating shoplifting.
An organization called ALTO, a technology-powered alliance that partners with retailers to combat retail crime, recognized Selena for all her hard work and dedication. Alto uses a network of partnerships to help retailers and law enforcement hold offenders ac
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ABOVE AND BEYOND!
Today Prosecution Specialist Selena Richardson was honored for her outstanding work when it comes to combating shoplifting.
An organization called ALTO, a technology-powered alliance that partners with retailers to combat retail crime, recognized Selena for all her hard work and dedication.  Alto uses a network of partnerships to help retailers and law enforcement hold offenders accountable and reduce retail theft. 
GREAT JOB SELENA!

OPERATION ROUTE 66 - WEEK 7
Since Operation Route 66 began seven weeks ago, law enforcement arrested 379 people.

266 of those offenders had warrants.
5 of those offenders are believed to be tied to homicides.
Judges have detained the majority of people who are suspects of violent crimes or probation violations.

Deputies, Agents, and Officers have seized:
2,660.6 fentanyl pills
333.9 grams of meth
25
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OPERATION ROUTE 66 - WEEK 7
Since Operation Route 66 began seven weeks ago, law enforcement arrested 379 people. 

266 of those offenders had warrants.
5 of those offenders are believed to be tied to homicides. 
Judges have detained the majority of people who are suspects of violent crimes or probation violations.  

Deputies, Agents, and Officers have seized:
2,660.6 fentanyl pills
333.9 grams of meth
25 guns seized
27 stolen vehicles 

Operation Route 66 is a collaborative effort with the Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office, the New Mexico State Police, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office, and the New Mexico Corrections Departments Probation and Parole Division. The goal is to fight crime in the Albuquerque area, with a current focus on the International District.   
#OperationRoute66 #LawEnforcement #PublicSafety #CommunitySafety #PoliceCollaboration

HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY --

MADD New Mexico along with the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office invite you to our 3rd Annual Spring Picnic! The event will take place Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 11am-2pm. Join us for this family-friendly event including food, fun activities, and quality time outdoors. This is a celebratory gathering for victims/survivors of DWI crashes, as well as the loc
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HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY --

MADD New Mexico along with the Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office invite you to our 3rd Annual Spring Picnic! The event will take place Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 11am-2pm. Join us for this family-friendly event including food, fun activities, and quality time outdoors. This is a celebratory gathering for victims/survivors of DWI crashes, as well as the local community and partners that support them.

OPERATION ROUTE 66 - WEEK 6
Since Operation Route 66 began six weeks ago, law enforcement arrested 338 people.

239 of those offenders had warrants.
5 of those offenders were wanted for murder charges

Deputies, Agents, and Officers have seized:
2,424 fentanyl pills
322 grams of meth
22 guns seized
23 stolen vehicles

Operation Route 66 is a collaborative effort with the Bernalillo County District Attor
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OPERATION ROUTE 66 - WEEK 6 
Since Operation Route 66 began six weeks ago, law enforcement arrested 338 people. 

239 of those offenders had warrants.
5 of those offenders were wanted for murder charges

Deputies, Agents, and Officers have seized:
2,424 fentanyl pills
322 grams of meth
22 guns seized
23 stolen vehicles 

Operation Route 66 is a collaborative effort with the Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office, the New Mexico State Police, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office, and the New Mexico Corrections Departments Probation and Parole Division. The goal is to fight crime in the Albuquerque area, with a current focus on the International District.   
#OperationRoute66 #LawEnforcement #PublicSafety #CommunitySafety #PoliceCollaboration

April is Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month — a time to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect and promote prevention efforts.

Please help protect the littlest New Mexicans....
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MADD New Mexico along with the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office invite you to our 3rd Annual Spring Picnic! The event will take place Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 11am-2pm. Join us for this family-friendly event including food, fun activities, and quality time outdoors. This is a celebratory gathering for victims/survivors of DWI crashes, as well as the local community and partners t ... See MoreSee Less

MADD New Mexico along with the Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office invite you to our 3rd Annual Spring Picnic! The event will take place Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 11am-2pm. Join us for this family-friendly event including food, fun activities, and quality time outdoors. This is a celebratory gathering for victims/survivors of DWI crashes, as well as the local community and partners that support them.

JURY CONVICTS MAN OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AFTER STALKING EX-GIRLFRIEND THEN KILLING HER FRIEND

Today a jury convicted Chase Brandon Cuffie of Second-Degree Murder and 3 counts of Aggravated Assault (Deadly Weapon).

The murder happened in July, 2023 at an apartment complex in northwest Albuquerque. Cuffie hid in his ex-girlfriend’s apartment after stalking her for several months. He then forced he
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JURY CONVICTS MAN OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AFTER STALKING EX-GIRLFRIEND THEN KILLING HER FRIEND

Today a jury convicted Chase Brandon Cuffie of Second-Degree Murder and 3 counts of Aggravated Assault (Deadly Weapon).

The murder happened in July, 2023 at an apartment complex in northwest Albuquerque.  Cuffie hid in his ex-girlfriend’s apartment after stalking her for several months. He then forced her and her friends inside the apartment.  When the victim, Craig Dixon ran for the door, Cuffie shot him multiple times, killing Dixon.  

Cuffie faces over 33 years in the Department of Corrections. Sentencing will take place at a later date.

MAN WHO RAPED 10-YEAR-OLD LITTLE GIRL IN 1992 — SENTENCED TO NEARLY TWO DECADES IN PRISON
Today a judge sentenced Freddy Valenzuela to 18 years in the New Mexico Corrections Department. In 1992, the little girl was walking in her neighborhood in the middle of the day, when Valenzuela grabbed her, pulled her into an alley, threatened to kill her, then raped the child.

The Bernalillo County Distri
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MAN WHO RAPED 10-YEAR-OLD LITTLE GIRL IN 1992  — SENTENCED TO NEARLY TWO DECADES IN PRISON
Today a judge sentenced Freddy Valenzuela to 18 years in the New Mexico Corrections Department.  In 1992, the little girl was walking in her neighborhood in the middle of the day, when Valenzuela grabbed her, pulled her into an alley, threatened to kill her, then raped the child. 

The Bernalillo County District Attorneys Cold Case Rape Unit, also known as the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) worked on this case.  DNA taken from a rape kit matched Valenzuela. The kit was tested in 2020,  years after the crime as the rape kit backlog was finally being cleared.  Last December, Valenzuela pled guilty to raping the little girl.  

The victim passed away in 2019.  Her family wanted to move forward with this case and were in court today to speak on her behalf.  

The victims family thanked us for not giving up and that we fought to see it through, said  SAKI Prosecutor Jack Bennett Jacks

This victim suffered a lifetime of trauma because of Valenzuela.  We sincerely hope todays sentence brings some closure and justice for her family.  Our SAKI Team is relentless when it comes to fighting for these victims — no matter how old these cases are.  Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman
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For Immediate Release

March 14, 2025

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MURDER CASE INVOLVING OTERO COUNTY DEPUTY TO PROCEED --

District Court Judge Angie Schneider ruled there was probable cause (enough evidence) to proceed with First-Degree murder charges against Otero County Deputy Jacob Diaz-Austin.

Thursday, in Alamogordo, New Mexico, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, and Chief Deputy District Attorney Natalie Lyon presented evidence in court that included video, photos, and testimony.